Bernie’s top equipment and gadgets – wheelchair accessories

In the third of her equipment review blogs, Bernie Hunter provides a round-up of top accessories for wheelchairs. 

Cup Holder

This is to carry my drink, the cup holder attaches onto my wheelchair and this allows me to take my drink out with me. I don’t understand why wheelchairs do not have cup holders already fitted onto them. It is a very useful accessory to have as I can easily access my drink and I don’t need any assistance to get it out of my bag, if it is a bottle of juice. The bottle just fits in the cup holder and I can take a drink when I want, the cup holder has a hook so it is hooked over my arm rest of the wheelchair and taped on just to make sure it is secure. It does make my chair a little wider but it just depends where the cup holder can be fitted onto the wheelchair. I got the cup holder from a hardware shop but there is a range online under ‘Car Cup Holder’. Here is a car cup holder which is available to purchase on ebay.

Net Bag

This is a bag which is made out of fabric, that attaches onto the handles of my wheelchair. It is very lightweight and it doesn’t stop you from putting any other bags on the back of the chair. The net bag is for to put lightweight items in like essentials and snacks, it saves you from having to take another bag out with you and it means that there is one less bag to carry about. The only thing about this bag is because it is clipped onto my wheelchair permanently which means I can’t access it independently but it is still very useful and I highly recommend it for anyone who uses a wheelchair- the net bag is available to order on this website.

Clutch Bag

This is a small bag with a wrist strap that attaches onto my belt, on my wheelchair, which means the bag is secure and can’t fall off. I use the bag to put my phone and money in as it is safe and I can easily access it myself. The bag has a zip and I have a keyring on it, this makes it easier for me to open and close it. The bag helps me to be more independent and I don’t have to worry about carrying my money or phone about with me. Clutch bags are available in stores like Primark, New Look or alternatively online by searching for “Clutch Bag”.

Bernie’s top equipment and gadgets – computer equipment

In her final gadget review blog, Bernie Hunter provides a run-down on her top three pieces of computer equipment.

Roller ball mouse

This is a computer accessory, it is an alternative to a mouse. I struggle to use a standard mouse because of my hand movements and I find it really challenging to keep the whole mouse steady while I try and click the mouse button using my finger. The roller ball mouse plugs into any computer the same way as any other mouse does, it has two buttons which are at the side of the roller ball and these are used for right and left clicking. It is very easy to control and both of the buttons are easy to access whereas some other roller ball mouse’s have a guard over them and it is challenging for you to press, every time you have to click something. If I didn’t use a roller ball mouse, I wouldn’t be able to access a computer so it is important that people do get the right equipment, that is required.  The roller ball can be purchased online. 

Big keys keyboard

This is a keyboard that can plug into any computer. It has larger keys compared to a standard keyboard making it easier and faster to type. The size of the keys makes a big difference because of my hand movements, I accidently press the wrong keys all the time as they are small and the letters are really close together which makes typing annoying, if you keep on making mistakes. The keyboard takes this problem away, I still sometimes press the wrong keys but not as much as I would using a standard keyboard. Having the big keys keyboard means that I can access a computer and type up articles etc, without it I would manage but it would take me double the time and it would be very challenging. The keyboards are available to purchase on eBay.

Stylus

This is a stylus pen that I use if I get tired typing with my fingers. It is thick so I can grip it easily and it also has a rubber tip, this saves it from damaging the keys. The tip makes it a bit slippy and it doesn’t grip the keys as good so I tape a small bit of Dycem (Non-Slip Mat) onto the tip of the stylus and that seems to work. The stylus makes typing easier and prevents me from accidently hitting the wrong keys. The stylus is available to purchase from Amazon.  

I believe I can fly!

Bobath Scotland trustee, Elaine Boyd, is currently taking part in the Flying Scholarships for Disabled People (FSDP) scheme. In an update on her last blog, Elaine Boyd shares her experience of her first day flying!

We arrived at Shadow Aviation this morning not knowing what to expect, I was feeling nervous and excited at the same time. I went along with Andy who is also a scholar with Flying Scholarships for Disabled People – we will be following the training programme together.

After meeting the instructors we were introduced to the plane – the African Queen! We went through a process of working out how we could operate the controls with our mobility and reduced strength. This was all sorted very quickly and we were advised that we would be flying this afternoon. I have to say finding a suitable plane for someone with cerebral palsy is easier than car shopping.

 

Fiona Luckhurst, the instructor and an FSDP Trustee, accompanied me. We flew over Salisbury – the cathedral is spectacular from the air. It felt absolutely amazing – the views, scenery and sense of freedom were incredible. Fiona handed the controls over to me, which was very unexpected – but for those of you who know me well I like to be in control!

We also got to see the crop circle – if you are a Dr Who fan this will mean more to you!

 

I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings but my verdict on day one is:

“Elaine Boyd flying high
Cerebral palsy won’t stop me reaching for the sky!”

And thanks to Jenna, my co pilot and daughter, for helping me make the 400 mile trip to Salisbury yesterday. I couldn’t have done it without her.

Please also see the FSDP FaceBook page for updates too.

Back in September, I saw a post on a cerebral palsy FaceBook page about a young lady, Bethany Cockburn, who had become a pilot following completion of a Flying Scholarship. I was amazed and pleased that someone with CP had achieved this. I started to research the charity who had awarded the scholarship, Flying Scholarships for Disabled People, and looked at the entry criteria. To be eligible you must have a UK driving licence and it is fine for the licence to be restricted to automatic.

I then shared the idea with friends and family and they thought it was a brilliant idea and encouraged me to apply. The scholarships aim to build confidence and since losing my mum in the previous year and having a number of falls my confidence had taken a dip. It looked like this could be a way to get back on the right road.

I completed my application in November 2017 and was advised that we would be notified by the end of February if we were successful in moving to the next stage. On 1 March I got the email I was waiting on with an invite to the three-day selection process at the end of March at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire. We were advised that 18 candidates were being invited to Cranwell with 12 places being offered.

The experience at Cranwell was amazing. Staying at an RAF base was exciting. I met lots of fantastic people including fellow candidates, flying instructors, doctors, physios, mentors, air cadets and trustees. It was a busy few days that involved interviews, medicals, accessing the plane and written tests. There was also lots of social activities which were really enjoyable. I was concerned about being able to operate the controls on the plane but it turned out that they were easier to operate than a car!

Two days after returning home I got the news that I was being awarded a scholarship and it was being funded by the Worldwings Trust. I couldn’t believe it, it is so exciting.

I am heading to RAF Fairford at the end of April to meet other scholars, flying instructors and Trustees. We will be given our flight kit then too. I will be flying for 21 hours during June and July. I will also have ground school during this time and will be sitting a number of exams. I will be training at Shadow Flight Centre in Salisbury.

In July I will also be heading to the Royal International Air Tattoo and will be formally presented with my scholarship by Prince Faisal of Jordan. If I pass I go back to the Tattoo next year to get my wings.

I am very excited about reaching for the sky with cerebral palsy and will keep you posted on my journey.

Chocks away!

I wanted to let you know I rely on an electric wheelchair to get about. Many years ago I was very lucky to get an old Permobil wheelchair for free from a friend of a friend, and it was the best chair which I ever had! I loved the comfort, being able to move position while in my wheelchair and get out walking in “off terrain” roads. It was great to drive and it made me feel more independent. Unfortunately the chair was very old and parts of the chair were broken and extremely hard to source parts to fix it. So I set my sights on a new one… 

As I loved my chair so much I contacted the supplier, which was Permobil, and last April a representative came to my house with the newest model of the chair to try out.  The minute I started to drive it, it was like dream to drive and the seating was pretty good for me. I had made my mind up this was the chair for me. 

After receiving the quote for the chair, which was over £12,000, I decided to start the big challenge of raising the funds to get myself this chair. The first thing I did was set up a JustGiving page to see if I could get off to a start. I wrote a good story about myself, stating how important the new chair would make to my life. I shared this page with my friends on Facebook and asked them to share to as many places as they could. I was thrilled with how generous people were. I then started thinking about doing events and decided to hold a race night, which was a great night and a big success with a lot money raised. Very generously my sister did a sponsored bike ride in January 2018 and an old school friend of hers ran The Great Scottish Run in October 2017. They both did very well and raised a great amount for the pot.  

My mum and I then wrote to many trust organizations. Because I am an adult it was for very difficult to find trusts that could donate to an individual plus an adult. Some of the trusts which gave me grants were The Bruce Wake Foundation, The Act Foundation and The Elifar Foundation. Some of these trusts had application forms to fill in which was time consuming because they were very detailed and some just needed a letter. I got supportive letters from my therapist from Bobath and my GP which was very important as it showed the trusts how beneficial it would be to me. I also wrote a very detailed story about myself to put into the application. Some trusts I found on the internet and others were recommended to me.

Early in 2018 we got told the price of the chair have been dropped by £1,000 which was very good news meaning we were on track to get the money sooner. In total it took me roughly 9 months to get the grand total. I ordered the chair and within 4 weeks it arrived all the way from Sweeden! The service Permobil offer is great. The representative comes out to fit the chair to you and then is coming to visit me in a few weeks’ time to make any adjustments that need done. This has given me a chance to find out what needs to be altered. Apart from a few teething issues this chair is amazing!

My top tip: Fundraising for a wheelchair or any other piece of equipment can be a long process and it sometimes can be frustrating! So my advice is if you would like a new wheelchair or equipment make sure that you have plenty of time and you have patience. 

Good luck if you are planning on fundraising.